Thermometer fixing machine and method of fixing



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June 1, 1965 F. M. WINCHELL 3,136,693

THERMOMETER FIXING MACHINE AND METHOD OF FIXING Filed May 6, 1963 3Sheets-Sheet 1 x? o k I N (a v 8 9 g\ 0 Q v "3 Q r g n i g Frederic M.Mnche/l N INVENTOK June 1, 1965 F. M. WINCHELL THERMOMETER FIXINGMACHINE AND METHOD OF FIXING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1963 w Mm M MN o A .m m W m H M. m C

My 8 M w F w. 8 Q vw mm \A .Wk v mm mm vm t mm mm I mh N Q\ 0 O O 0 0 OO O O.\O O O 0 O O O O 0 0 O O O 6 7 X mm a mm a g a0 Q T 6 mm NM June1, 1965 F. M. WINCHELL 3,186,693

THERMOMETER FIXING MACHINE AND METHOD OF FIXING Filed May 6, 1963 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 6

Frederic M. Winchell INVENTOR.

BY WWW 3m United States Patent 3,186,693 THERMOMETER FLKHQG NEACHINE ANDMETHGD 8F FIXING Frederic M. Winchell, Leeshurg, Flzn, assigner toJoseph .l. Ballo, Leesburg, Fla. Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No. 278,315Claims. (1. 263-2) This invention relates to apparatus for uniformlydimensioning the constrictions in the bores of clinical types ofthermometers.

The apparatus of the present invention is concerned with thestandardization of constrictions in clinical types of thermometersnecessary to obtain accurate temperature readings as well as to controlthe movement of mercury to and from the bulb end of the thermometerthrough the bore therein. It is therefore a primary object of thepresent invention to provide facilities in connection with themanufacture of clinical thermometers or the like whereby theconstrictions in the bores thereof may be uniformly dimensioned inaccordance with required specifications for proper operation of thethermometers.

In accordance with the foregoing object, the apparatus of the presentinvention pertains to a thermometer fixing operation which involves therotatable support of a plurality of thermometers, maintained rotating inthe same direction and at a predetermined speed so that the flames froman elongated burner may apply a controlled amount of heat to each of thethermometers at a preadjusted spacing from the bulb ends thereof inorder to open and tighten the constriction in the mercury conductingbores. The apparatu therefore is provided with facilities 'foradjustably spacing the bulb ends of the thermometers from the rollersupports on which they are rotatably mounted above the elongated burner.The supporting rollers are driven in the same direction and are disposedin overlapping relation to each other for support of the thermometerstherebetween. Facilities are also provided whereby the flames issuingfrom the elongated burner may be varied in order to control the amountof heat applied while the thermometers are being rotated and heated fora predetermined period of time.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the Presentinvention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus.

FiGURE 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially through aplane indicated by the section line 44- in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial top plan view of the apparatus showingthe mounting of a clinical thermometer thereon.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through aplane indicated by the section line 6-6 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a planeindicated by the section line 77 in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a clinical type of thermometer with theconstriction formed therein by the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed fromFIGURES l, 2 and 3 that the apparatus generally referred to by referencenumeral it) includes a base or frame generally referred to by thereference 3,186,593 Patented June 1, 1965 numeral 12 including a pair ofparallel spaced plate members 14 and 16 which are interconnected by aplurality of spaced connecting rods 18 to form a rigid frame assemblywith a mounting platform 20 on which an electric motor 22 is mounted.The electric motor is thereby operative to impart movement to a rotatingsupporting assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 24mounted between the frame plates 14 and 16. Also mounted in parallelspaced relation to the rotating supporting assembly 24, is an elongatedburner 26. The burner 26 therefore includes a plurality of spacedoutlets 23 through which flames issue when the fuel mixture containedwithin the manifold conduit 30 is ignited. The fuel mixture within thesupply manifold 30 is therefore derived from a gaseous fuel inletconduit 32 and an air inlet conduit 34. A settable control assembly 36is therefore provided whereby the flame and heat produced by the burner26 may be regulated in accordance with varying requirements.

The rotating supporting assembly 24 includes a plurality of parallelspaced rotating spindles 38 rotatably mounted between the frame plates14 and 16. Alternate spindles 3% have secured thereto a pair of disks 40and 42 which are axially spaced from each other and radially overlapadjacent disks 44 and 46 secured to the adjacent spindle, the disks 44and 46 therefore being axially spaced with respect to the disks 4i? and42 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 3 and 5. Thus, clinical types ofthermometers 43 may be rotatably supported between adjacent disks ofadjacent spindles as more clearly seen in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7. The disksare therefore made of yieldable friction material such as rubber so asto support t-e thermometers Without damage thereto and impart rotationto the thermometers in the same direction. Accordingly, each of thespindles 38 are driven in the same rotational direction. Toward thisend, a plurality of gear elements 59 are secured to the spindles 38 atends thereof projecting from the frame plate 14. Adjacent gear elements54 therefore intermesh with a lower set of gear members 52 which arealso rotatably mounted by the frame plate 14. Thus, the gear element 5%at the extreme right end of the apparatus as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 3,will mesh with a drive gear member 54 so that rotation will be impartedto each of the gear elements 5!} in the same direction which is oppositeto the rotational direction of the gear members 52. The drive gearmember 54 also rotatably mounted by the frame plate 14 the efore mesheswith the output gear member 56 connected to the output member of thegear reducer 5'8 driven by the electric motor 22. It will therefore beapparent, that each of the thermometers 48 will be rotated in onedirection at a predetermined speed.

As more clearly seen in FIGURE 3, each of the thermometers 48 includesan elongated inner bore 60 through which mercury moves to and from thebulb end 62 of the thermometer. A constriction 64 is formed in the bore60 at a predetermined distance from the bulb end 62, this constrictionbeing of such dimensions so that the passage of mercury will becontrolled in order to provide proper readings of temperature from theindicia formed on the thermometer tube. Thus, the flame 65 issuing fromthe elongated burner 26 must be applied at the proper spacing from thebulb end of the thermometer. The thermometers supported on the rotatingdisks will therefore extend therefrom aspaced distance above theelongated burner as more clearly seen in FIGURE 6. Accordingly, the bulbends 62 of the thermometers will abut against an elongated bar 68adjustably mounted in spaced relation to the frame plate 16 so as topredetermine the points at which the flames 66 are applied to thethermometers. A pair of adjustment screw members 70 are therefore fixedto the frame plate 16 and extend rearwardly therefrom for support of theelongated bar 68 in adjustably spaced relation to the frame plate 16 asmore clearly seen in FIGURE 3. It will also be appreciated, that inorder to obtain the required constriction in the thermometer bore, theamount of heat applied must be controllably regulated, this beingaccomplished through the regulation of the supply of the fuelmixture tothe burner manifold 30.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, it will be observed that the fuelmixture supply manifold 30 is connected by the elbow 72 to a mixingchamber 74 within which the gaseous fuel supplied through the conduit 32is mixed with the air supplied through the conduit 34. Each of theconduits 32 and 34 is therefore connected to the mixing chamber bymanually set globe valves 76 and 78 which regulate the flow of gas andair to the mixing chamber. In order to control the size of the flameissuing from the elongated burner, a control valve 80 is connected intothe gas supply conduit 32 preceding the globe valve 76. The regulatingvalve 80 is therefore provided with a control knob 82 which is adaptedto be-held in diiferent control positions by the settable controlmechanism 36 so as to controllably vary the flame issued by theelongated burner. The settable control mechanism 36 therefore includes alinkage member 84 having an inclined portion 86 engageable with thevalve knob 82 in order to hold the knob in predetermined positions. Oneend of the linkage member 84 is therefore pivotally connected by thelink element 38 to one end of the lever member 90. The lever member90'is sup ported by a fulcrum support members 92 secured by the clamp 94to the burner manifold 30. It will therefore be apparent, that movementof the manual handle end 96 of the lever 90 will displace the linkagemember 84 against the bias of the anchoring spring 98 between two limitpositions. Accordingly, the limit positions are determined by the headsof adjustment screws 100 and 102 mounted on top of brackets 104 and 106.It will therefore be apparent, that by actuation of the lever member 90,the linkage member 84 may be displaced to one of the two limit positionsdetermined by the adjustment screws 100 and 102 in order to hold thevalve knob 82 in one of two control positions. The highth of the flamesissuing from the burner and the heat thereby applied to the thermometersmay be regulated.

From the foregoing description, the construction, operation and utilityof the apparatus of the present invention and the thermometer fixingmethod involved will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated,'thata plurality of thermometers may be standardized as to location anddimension of the constrictionsfin the bores thereof in view of thecontrolled application of the burner flames at an adjustable distancefrom the bulb ends while the thermometers which are supported in arotating condition 'above the elongated burner. Controlled variation inthe size of the burner flame and thetime during which the thermometersare subjected to the flame will therefore enable one to uniformlycontrol the size of the constrictions formed in the bores of thethermometers.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows: 1. A method of obtainingdimensional uniformity in the constrictions of the bores in thermometerswherein each bore is sealed adjacent opposite ends of the thermometerand has a bulb formation adjacent one end of the thermometer, comprisingthe steps of: locally heating the thermometers simultaneously todimensionally vary the constrictions formed therein; rotating saidthermometers about parallel spaced axes while being heated; aligning thebulb ends of the thermometers while being rotated to localize saidheating at the constrictions equally distanced from the bulb ends; andregulating the duration and intensity of the heat locally applied to thethermometers't'o dimensionally correct deviations in the constrictionsfrom a standard.

2. Apparatus for standardizing the constriction in the bores ofthermometersspaced from the bulb ends thereof comprising, supportingmeans for establishing a plurality of parallel spaced rotational axesabout which said thermometers are adapted to be rotated, burner meansfixedly mounted below a plane defined by said parallel spaced axes alonga line extending in transverse relation to said axes, adjustable guidemeans mounted in transverse in tersecting relation to said axes inspaced alignment with the burner means relative to said axes on the sameside of the supporting means, and flame height control means operativelyconnected to the burner means for preset variation in flames emittedtherefrom locally applying heat at locations equally spaced from theguide means along said axes, whereby said constrictions in the bores ofthe thermometers are rendered uniform in dimension by the locallyapplied heat when the thermometers are the bulb ends in engagement withthe guide means.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said adjustable guide meanscomprises, an elongated bar mounted on the same side of the supportingmeans as the burner means and adjustment mounting members secured to thesupporting means for support of the elongated bar in parallel spacedrelation of the burner means.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said flame height control meanscomprises, fuel valve means 0peratively connected to the burner meansfor regulating the supply of fuel thereto, selectively actuated linkagemeans engageable with said valve means for controlling the duration ofthe flames emitted from the burnermeans, and li mit means engageable bythe linkage means for presetting the height of said flames when'emitted.

5. The combination of claim 2,wherein said flame height control meanscomprises, fuel valve means operatively connected to the burner meansfor regulating the supply of fuel thereto, selectively actuated linkagemeans engageable with said valve means for controlling the duration ofthe flames emitted from the burner means, and limit means engageable bythe linkage means for presetting the heightof said flames when emitted.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,055,402 3/13Kimble 65279 1,897,640 2/33 Millar 65278 X 1,948,560 2/34 Bornman Q.65279 X 2,103,585 12 /37 Kimble et al. Q. 65279 X 2,228,010 2/41 Koenig65272 FOREIGN PATENTS 383,545 3/ 08 France.

CHARLES SUKALO, Primary Examiner.

JOHN J, CAMBY, Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF OBTAINING DIMENSIONAL UNIFORMITY IN THE CONSTRICTIONS OFTHE BORES IN THERMOMETERS WHEREIN EACH BORE IS SEALED ADJACENT OPPOSITEENDS OF THE THERMOMETER AND HAS A BULB FORMATION ADJACENT ONE END OF THETHERMOMETER, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: LOCALLY HEATING THE THERMOMETERSSIMULTANEOUSLY TO DIMENSIONALLY VARY THE CONSTRICTIONS FORMED THEREIN;ROTATING SAID THERMOMETERS ABOUT PARALLEL SPACED AXES WHILE BEINGHEATED; ALIGNING THE BULB ENDS OF THE THERMOMETERS WHILE BEING ROTATEDTO LOCALIZE SAID HEATING AT THE CONSTRICTIONS EQUALLY DISTANCED FROM THEBULB ENDS; AND REGULATING THE DURATION AND INTENSITY OF THE HEAT LOCALLYAPPLIED TO THE THERMONETERS TO DIMENSIONALLY CORRECT DEVIATIONS IN THECONSTRICTIONS FROM A STANDARD..